The Stats:
Regular Season Record: 13-3
Last Six Games: 4-2
All-Time Playoff Record: 17-16
Bears' Previous Playoff Results
The Team:
Team Colors: Navy Blue, Orange, and White
Head Coach: Lovie Smith
Owner: Virginia McCaskey
Mascot: Staley
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Offensive Rankings:
Run: 15th (119.9 ypg)
Pass: 14th (205.1 ypg)
Overall: 15th (324.9 ypg)
Points Per Game: 2nd (26.7 ppg)
Key Player: Rex Grossman
The Bears will be counting on Grossman to avoid the turnovers that plagued him midway through the season. He may also be called on to make some plays if the Bears defense continues on its current slide.
Defensive Rankings:
Run: 6th (99.4 ypg)
Pass: 11th (194.8 ypg)
Overall: 5th (294.1 ypg)
Points Per Game: 3rd (15.9 ppg)
Key Player: Brian Urlacher
Urlacher's ability to cover so much ground is what makes the Bears' version of the cover-2 defense work so well. He also has the ability to take over games defensively, which he may have to do considering the way the unit has performed recently.
Special Teams:
Key Player: Devin Hester
Hester has game-changing abilities in the return game, but he has been known to lay the ball on the carpet from time to time. When he hangs onto the ball, however, he generally puts the Bears offense in great starting field position.
Turnovers:
Give Aways: 5th (36)
Take Aways: 1st (44)
Outlook:
The Bears have got to do a better job protecting the football during the playoffs. They can't afford another letdown game by Grossman, and he could get the hook if he doesn't protect the ball. The Bears defense has got to turn it back up a couple notches as well, or this team could suffer a disappointing end to a promising season.
Fortunately for the Bears, they are dealing with a weak NFC field, and are probably the favorites at this point. It will be a different story, however, if they advance to the Super Bowl to face the AFC's best team.
Bears Roster:
Offense
14 - Brian Griese QB
8 - Rex Grossman QB
18 - Kyle Orton QB
32 - Cedric Benson RB
47 - Bryan Johnson RB
20 - Thomas Jones RB
37 - Jason McKie RB
29 - Adrian Peterson RB
48 - J.D. Runnels RB
80 - Bernard Berrian WR
16 - Mark Bradley WR
17 - Airese Currie WR
81 - Rashied Davis WR
12 - Justin Gage WR
87 - Muhsin Muhammad WR
88 - Desmond Clark TE
85 - John Gilmore TE
82 - Gabe Reid TE
57 - Olin Kreutz C
65 - Patrick Mannelly OT
69 - Fred Miller OT
78 - John St. Clair OT
76 - John Tait OT
74 - Ruben Brown OG
63 - Roberto Garza OG
60 - Terrence Metcalf OG
68 - Anthony Oakley OG
Defense
97 - Mark Anderson DE
96 - Alex Brown DE
73 - Khari Long DE
93 - Adewale Ogunleye DE
70 - Alfonso Boone DT
73 - Delbert Cowsette DT
98 - Dusty Dvoracek DT
90 - Antonio Garay DT
91 - Tommie Harris DT
71 - Israel Idonije DT
99 - Tank Johnson DT
95 - Ian Scott DT
94 - Brendon Ayanbadejo LB
55 - Lance Briggs LB
92 - Hunter Hillenmeyer LB
53 - Leon Joe LB
58 - Darrell McClover LB
54 - Brian Urlacher LB
52 - Jamar Williams LB
59 - Rod Wilson LB
23 - Devin Hester CB
24 - Ricky Manning Jr. CB
33 - Charles Tillman CB
31 - Nathan Vasher CB
21 - Dante Wesley CB
30 - Mike Brown S
22 - Tyler Everett S
46 - Chris Harris S
35 - Todd Johnson S
38 - Danieal Manning S
36 - Brandon McGowan S
27 - Nick Turnbull S
44 - Cameron Worrell S
Kicker/Punter
9 - Robbie Gould K
4 - Brad Maynard P
